Can A Person Survive Pancreatic Cancer?

Are there any new treatments or developments in the treatment of this type of cancer? I have a close relative who has just been diagnosed with this type of cancer.

I have a dear friend of 27 years with pancreatic cancer. She has been dx. for about one year, taking chemotherapy treatments. Is there any new treatment that could save her life?

Yes there are many successfully used alternative treatments.

My husband has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer spread to the liver. He is in chemotherapy getting Gemcitimine (Gemzar) he goes 3 weeks on (once a week) and one week off. He foes not have bad side effects. We are hopeful that this treatment will prolong his life for 5-10 years. We are optimistic he looks good and feels good. He is on a study. He is 53 years old. I don’t think there is a cure but longevity has improved greatly…what your friend is on. God bless.

I am a pancreatic cancer survivor. I was diagnosed, (at age 56), and operated on in November 2000. They removed 40% of my pancreas, my entire spleen, a slice of my kidney, and 5 lymph nodes. Fortunately for me the cancer only spread to the first lymph node...the others were clear. After surgery...I had 24 hour infusion of chemo, (5fu), for 5 weeks, and radiation 5 days a week during the same 5 weeks. It was devastating!! The second go around of chemo was gemzar for 9 weeks...one day a week. My last chemo treatment was May 29, 2001. I continue to have blood work done every 90 days, and cat scans are done every 6 months. It has been 3 years/ 9 months, and I continue to be cancer free. YES...pancreatic cancer can be cured!!!! Tell your husband to fight this horrible disease as hard as he can...and to keep the faith. Russ

Russ, what a wonderful outcome. Was your chemo and radiation immediately after surgery, or did you wait for surgical recovery? Also, where did you receive treatment? My husband also treated a late stage IV pancreatic cancer aggressively with chemo and surgery. Following surgery, his blood counts would not support necessary chemo and the cancer appears to have overtaken him. We applaud your good news. Dawn S.

Dear Dawn S.
They delayed my treatments of radiation and chemo until after the holidays, (x-mas 2000)...so I began treatments about 2 months after surgery. My surgery was done at the University of Penn and that is where my oncologist is located. Since I had 24 hour infusion of chemo the doctor arranged for a nurse to come out to the house once a week to change my chemo cartridge and clean out my port. Also since I live in New Jersey he arranged for my radiation treatments to be done a little closer to home. Both were done at the same time for 5 weeks. After that I went back to the University of Penn for another go around of chemo. I continue to go there today for my checkups. In fact I just had one last week, and the cat scans are still negative. I am so sorry to hear about your husband. That is the horrible thing about pancreatic cancer. Early detection is so difficult and unfortunately the survival rate is so low. I will pray for his comfort and well being. I feel so fortunate to have survived as long as I have, and at the same time feel compelled to reach out to others who have cancer. It is a horrible disease and it takes every bit of your physical and mental well being to continue the good fight. It is a constant emotional roller coaster. If you would like to communicate further with me, PLEASE feel free to do so. Best regards and thanks for the kind words...Russ

Hello,

I thought I'd send you a message to see how your husband is doing? My mother was to have whipple surgery on Nov. 1 and after the surgery, the doctor told us that he did not remove anything because the pancreatic cancer (peri-ampullary) had spread to her liver. We are very shocked when we heard the news because nothing confirmed that she had cancer before the surgery. We are waiting for her to recuperate from her surgery which takes about a month and then will meet with the cancer specialists. I was wondering if you might be able to give us some information as to what to expect, how you're coping and how your husband is doing.

Thank you,

Paresha

I read your post. Congratulations! I have just completed Gemzar and radiation. I was diagnosed and received the Whipple procedure in August. Have you done anything different in your diet? exercise?

To Russ:
My husband has had the same surgery you described with out kidney involvement he is have radiation and chemo much the same as you he is very discouraged and losing weight, we are at the end of radiation treatment only 6 more to go and 3 chemo treatments coinciding with the last three radiation. After that it will be weekly chemo for 4 months How long did it take for you to start to recover. Please answer. Penny W.